(160g) Process for Producing Biodiesel Jatropha Ester Fuel from Lower and Higher Alcohols and Investigations of Its Blending Properties

Much research has been done on biodiesels over the last 20 yr after the oil crisis in 1973. At present, concern about environmental regulations has been the major reason to look for alternative fuel. A significant level in terms of physico-chemical properties of biodiesel has been obtained but there is a lack of full or partial replacement of fossil fuel that needs to be discussed. Different studies have been carried out using jatropha oil as raw material, different alcohols (methanol, ethanol, butanol) as well as different catalysts, homogeneous ones such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and sulphuric acid. In this work advantages and disadvantages of technologies are listed. In this the blending properties are also investigated along with fire point, flash point, cetane index, distillation characteristics, kinematic viscosity, sulphur content and carbon residue.